SMS Country Information Guide: North America
Canada
Best Messaging Channels by Use Case (Bird's Recommendations)
Transactional SMS: Toll Free Number
Promotional SMS: Toll Free Number
Two-Way Conversations: SMS with Toll Free Number
Sender Types Supported
Alphanumeric Sender ID (Business names like "Bird" or "Netflix" that send one-way messages): No
Canada Phone Number: Yes
Canada Short Code: Yes
International Phone Number: No
Generic Sender ID (Sender IDs that don't clearly identify your brand): No
Restrictions
Operator Registration Required: No
Generic URL Shortening: No (Only branded URL shortening like yourbrand.link is allowed)
Quiet Hours/Do Not Disturb: Yes (Monday-Sunday 20:00-08:00)
Additional Notes
Also supported: Short Codes, SMS Local Numbers (for testing only)
Opt-out Rules
Transactional traffic: Opt-out required. Stop language should be included in all registration messages
Promotional traffic: Opt-out required. Stop language must be included in all registration messages
Mexico
Best Messaging Channels by Use Case (Bird's Recommendations)
Transactional SMS: Alphanumeric Sender ID (e.g., "YourBrand")
Promotional SMS: Alphanumeric Sender ID (e.g., "YourBrand")
Two-Way Conversations: WhatsApp (You can use your existing number or get a new one from Bird)
Sender Types Supported
Alphanumeric Sender ID (Business names like "Bird" or "Netflix" that send one-way messages): Yes
Mexico Phone Number: Yes
Mexico Short Code: Yes
International Phone Number: No
Generic Sender ID (Sender IDs that don't clearly identify your brand): No
Restrictions
Operator Registration Required: Yes
Generic URL Shortening: Yes
Quiet Hours/Do Not Disturb: Yes
Monday-Thursday: 20:00-08:00
Friday-Sunday: 20:00-18:00
Additional Notes
Promotional traffic allowed only from 08:00-18:00 local time
Without a registered Alphanumeric Sender ID, messages default to a Shared Short Code (or your Dedicated Short Code if you have one)
Alpha Sender registration fee: $350 USD monthly if sending fewer than 100K messages per month
Two-way messaging available via dedicated short codes, but using your own WhatsApp number may be more cost-effective
Opt-out Rules: No specific opt-out regulations
United States of America
Best Messaging Channels by Use Case (Bird's Recommendations)
Transactional SMS: Toll Free Long Code (Phone Number)
Promotional SMS: Toll Free Long Code (Phone Number)
Two-Way Conversations: SMS with a two-way Toll Free Long Code
Sender Types Supported
Alphanumeric Sender ID (Business names like "Bird" or "Netflix" that send one-way messages): No
US Phone Number: Yes
US Short Code: Yes
International Phone Number: No
Generic Sender ID (Sender IDs that don't clearly identify your brand): No
Restrictions
Operator Registration Required: Yes
Generic URL Shortening: No (Only branded URL shortening like yourbrand.link is allowed)
Quiet Hours/Do Not Disturb: Yes (Monday-Sunday 20:00-09:00)
Additional Notes
Also supported: US 10DLC, Toll Free Numbers
See country-specific page for more information about short codes
Opt-out Rules
Transactional traffic: Opt-out required. Stop language should be included in all registration messages
Promotional traffic: Opt-out required. Stop language must be included in all registration messages
Was this helpful?